Shingled magnetic recording storage system during vibration

ABSTRACT

The disclosed technology provides a method that improves SMR throughput in vibration in storage systems. In one implementation, the method comprises receiving a write command to write data on a first track in a band of a storage medium, performing a vibration detection scheme to identify vibration events, determining if a number of vibration events is above a predetermined threshold, skipping the first track responsive to determining the number of vibration events is above a predetermined threshold, seeking to a second track adjacent to the first track, increasing an OCLIM on the second track adjacent to the first track from a default OCLIM to an increased OCLIM, and shifting the writer center on the second track adjacent to the first track.

BACKGROUND

As requirements for data storage density increase for magnetic media,cell size decreases. A commensurate decrease in the size of a writeelement is difficult because in many systems, a strong write fieldgradient is needed to shift the polarity of cells on a magnetizedmedium. As a result, writing data to smaller cells on the magnetizedmedium using the relatively larger write pole may affect thepolarization of adjacent cells (e.g., overwriting the adjacent cells).One technique for adapting the magnetic medium to utilize smaller cellswhile preventing adjacent data from being overwritten during a writeoperation is shingled magnetic recording (SMR).

SMR allows for increased areal density capability (ADC) as compared toconventional magnetic recording (CMR) but at the cost of someperformance ability. As used herein, CMR refers to a system that allowsfor random data writes to available cells anywhere on a magnetic media.In contrast to CMR systems, SMR systems are designed to utilize a writeelement with a write width that is larger than a defined track pitch. Asa result, changing a single data cell within a data track entailsre-writing a corresponding group of shingled (e.g., sequentiallyincreasing or decreasing) data tracks.

SUMMARY

In one implementation, this disclosure provides a system receiving awrite command to write data on a first track in a band of a storagemedium, performing a vibration detection scheme to identify vibrationevents, determining if a number of vibration events is above apredetermined threshold, skipping the first track responsive todetermining the number of vibration events is above a predeterminedthreshold, seeking to a second track adjacent to the first track,increasing an OCLIM on the second track adjacent to the first track froma default OCLIM to an increased OCLIM, and shifting the writer center onthe second track adjacent to the first track.

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This Summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended tobe used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. These andvarious other features and advantages will be apparent from a reading ofthe following Detailed Description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example SMR data storage system.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an example shingled tracks of a dynamicmapping partition in an SMR data storage system.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an example shingled tracks of a segmentbased dynamic mapping partition in an SMR data storage system.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an example shingled tracks of a dynamicmapping partition in an SMR data storage system.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of example operations for an improved throughputprocess in an SMR data storage system.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an example computer system suitable forimplementing the technology disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As used herein, the term “disturbance” refers to changes affecting anenvironment within a storage device including, for example, vibration. Adisturbance may be caused by forces external or internal to the storagedevice.

Disturbances such as impact shock and vibration can be a cause ofproblems in hard drive disc systems, particularly during writeoperations. If a disturbance occurs while data is being written to astorage medium, a write element may be knocked off of a target datatrack. As a result, data may be recorded incorrectly or becomecorrupted. Disturbances may be caused by a variety of forces, such as auser playing loud music from a laptop computer, vibrations due tocooling fans turning on or off, or external impact forces absorbed by anelectronic device.

If a disturbance occurs while data is being written to a storage medium,data may be recorded incorrectly or become corrupted. In some recordingsystems, storage space is statically mapped so that each data block(e.g., a sector) is associated with a logical address assigned by a hostcomputer. In these types of systems, a write operation affected by adisturbance can be retried at the statically mapped location until thewrite succeeds. However, write retries are time consuming, and may takea full spin period or revolution time of a magnetic media in the storagemedium. If the frequency of disturbance-related write errors is large,throughput performance can decrease. These challenges are magnified inshingled magnetic recording (SMR) systems. An SMR drive is a storagedevice that uses bands of overlapping tracks to increase storagedensity. In SMR, a new track may be written that partially overlaps apreviously written track, creating a shingled aspect to the tracks. SMRleverages the fact that a width of a read head is typically narrowerthan the width of a write head. The storage density of an SMR drive isincreased over conventional drives because the previously written tracksare thinner, allowing for higher track density. In an SMR drive, a setof bands of overlapping tracks may be separated by an isolation space,which serves to reduce the number of tracks that need to be rewrittenwhen a shingled track is rewritten. In SMR, a write element may be largeenough to affect two adjacent data tracks on a single pass. If the writeelement is displaced from a target position by vibrations, adjacenttracks on either side of a target track can be affected.

The present disclosure is directed to data storage systems that improveSMR throughput in vibration. The disclosed method includes detectingvibration in an SMR drive and skipping an unmapped track so that anon-cylinder limit (OCLIM) may be increased when dynamically writing toan adjacent track. The OCLIM may be defined as the off-track limit,which is pre-determined during drive design. When a writer position fromthe track center (position error signals) is greater than OCLIM, thewriting operation may be stopped. In some implementations, the range ofOCLIM is approximately 7-14% track pitch. In some implementations, theunit of OCLIM may be a minch. For example, 0.1 minch.

More particularly, the present disclosure is directed to data storagesystems and devices that perform a vibration determination scheme thatdetects vibration via a vibration sensor. A write operation can skip acurrent unmapped track and start writing on an adjacent track ifvibration is detected. Since the adjacent track is unmapped, the writeis shifted so that an OCLIM can be increased, reducing disc retry andimproving throughput. When vibration is no longer detected on the drive,the drive will stop skipping tracks and will proceed with a defaultOCLIM.

The technology disclosed herein can be used with various data storagedevices. Examples of such data storage devices include hard disc drives,solid state hybrid drives, solid state media such as NAND, NVRAM,Resistive RAM (ReRAM), Magnetic RAM (MRAM), Phase Change Memory (PCM),and other memory technologies.

In the following description, reference is made to the accompanyingdrawing that forms a part hereof and in which are shown by way ofillustration at least one specific embodiment. In the drawing, likereference numerals are used throughout several figures to refer tosimilar components. In some instances, a reference numeral may have anassociated sub-label consisting of a lower-case letter to denote one ofmultiple similar components. When reference is made to a referencenumeral without specification of a sub-label, the reference is intendedto refer to all such multiple similar components.

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an example data storage system100, showing various functional components used to control the operationof a data storage device 110 (e.g., an SMR HDD, an SMR SSHD, an objectstorage device, etc.).

The data storage system 100 includes a computing or computing device 102(e.g., a computer, a mobile device, the internet, etc.) operablyconnected to the data storage device 110, each of the computing device102 and the data storage device 110 communicating with each other.

A processor 104 is located in the computing device 102. The processor104 sends one or more read or write commands to a storage devicecontroller 112 for execution. As control communication paths areprovided between a computing device 102 and the storage devicecontroller 112, the storage device controller 112 provides communicationand control for the data storage device 110.

A storage media 114 located in the data storage device 110 may be one ormore of a variety of tangible media (excluding carrier waves andcommunication signals), including hard disk drives and solid statehybrid drives, store data on magnetic media, as well as optical media,solid state media such as NAND, NVRAM, Resistive RAM (ReRAM), MagneticRAM (MRAM), Phase Change Memory (PCM), and other advanced and staidmemory technologies.

The data storage device 110 further includes a cache 116 that is eithera storage area on the storage media 114 or another non-volatile memoryaccessible by the data storage device 110. In the depicted system 100,the cache 116 is a storage area on the storage media 114.

A band (e.g., a band 120) of shingled tracks (e.g., a shingled track130) may also be located in the storage media 114. In FIG. 1, theshingled tracks 130 located in the band 120 are shown. An implementationof the shingled tracks 130 is arranged such that when data is written toone of the shingled tracks 130 (except for the last data track), awriting operation affects data on an adjacent track in a down-trackdirection.

In SMR drives, to prevent off-track write encroachment on adjacentshingled tracks 130, an OCLIM may be reduced so that ADC gain may beimproved. However, by reducing an OCLIM, many disc retries may occurwhich decreases a drive's throughput due to adverse effects, such aslarge position error signals (e.g., a music test).

On certain media partitions with dynamic address mapping (e.g., a mediacache), one side of a target location is unmapped. In one implementationof the disclosed technology, with dynamic mapping, a write operation canskip a current track (e.g., track n) and start writing on an adjacenttrack (e.g., track n+1) if vibration is detected. Specifically, thestorage device controller 112 receives a write command to write data ona first track in the band 120. Vibration may be detected from avibration sensor 106 (or shock sensor) in the data storage device orfrom position error signals (PES). The vibration sensor 106 detects theshock between two servo wedges to stop the write operation anytime whenshock happens. PES also can be considered a kind of vibration sensor,but not continuous. A vibration detection module 108 performs avibration detection scheme to identify a number of vibration events, byidentifying the number of triggers of the vibration sensor 106 or anOCLIM within one revolution. If there is only one trigger, it may haveoccurred accidently. In some implementations, the number of servo wedgesis approximately 400. One sigma of PES is approximately 3% track pitchwithout vibration. Each triggered event requires one more revolution tocomplete the write operation. In some implementations, a thresholdshould be around 5 trigger of PES overshoots (off-track write) in onetrack transfer. If the track pitch is too small, a media cache maybecome full due to skipping to many tracks. If the track pitch is toolarge, there may be a performance drop and the requirement for commandcomplete time may not be met. For example, to demonstrate thecorrelation of 1 sigma PES value (in % of track pitch) and number of PESovershoot, when a measurement for 1 sigma PES is 4% track pitch, thenapproximately 5 PES overshoot will occur in 1 track transfer (while thedrive may need to retry write for 5 times).

If the number of vibration events is above a predetermined threshold,the first track (e.g., track n) is skipped and designated as a “skippedtrack” in a mapping table (not shown). Once a track is designated as askipped track in the mapping table, the host will not be able to accessthe skipped track. In some implementations, an SMR drive may have acleaning or garbage collection operation which will recycle the skippedtracks and make them usable again.

The storage device controller 112 seeks to a second track (track n+1)adjacent to the first track n. Since the adjacent track n+1 is unmapped,the OCLIM on the second track n+1 adjacent to the first track n isincreased from a default OCLIM to an increased OCLIM and the writercenter on the second track n+1 adjacent to the first track n is shifted.Data is written on the second track n+1 adjacent to the first track n.When the vibration detection scheme determines that there is no morevibration detected, the SMR drive stops skipping tracks and proceedswith a default OCLIM.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of example tracks in a dynamic mappingpartition in an SMR data storage system 200. A partition with dynamictrack mapping is shown. Four tracks are shown: a track n−1, a track n, atrack n+1, and a track n+2. The track n−1 may be partially mapped orfully mapped. In FIG. 2, track n−1 is fully mapped. The track n isadjacent to track n−1. In FIG. 2, the track n is unmapped.

A write operation can skip a current track (e.g., the track n) and startwriting on an adjacent track (e.g., the track n+1) if vibration isdetected. A storage device controller (not shown) receives a writecommand to write data on a first track in the band. Vibration may bedetected from a vibration sensor or shock sensor) in the data storagedevice or from PES. The vibration sensor detects the shock between twoservo wedges to stop the write operation anytime when shock happens. Avibration detection module performs a vibration detection scheme toidentify a number of vibration events.

If the number of vibration events is above a predetermined threshold,the first track (e.g., track n) is skipped. The storage devicecontroller seeks to a second track (track n+1) adjacent to the firsttrack n.

The track n+1 may be partially mapped or fully mapped. In FIG. 2, thetrack n+1 is fully mapped. If the track n+2 is fully mapped, track n+1must be fully mapped. In FIG. 2, the track n+2 is unmapped. There mustbe no vibration or other disturbances before completing writing trackn+1 if there are mapped segments on the track n+2. Otherwise, the nextmapped segments should be on track n+3 (not shown).

In some implementations, the adjacent track n+1 is unmapped, and theOCLIM on the second track n+1 adjacent to the first track n is increasedfrom a default OCLIM to an increased OCLIM and the writer center on thesecond track n+1 adjacent to the first track n is shifted from an oldwriter center 210 to a new writer center 212. Data is written on thesecond track n+1 adjacent to the first track n. When the vibrationdetection scheme determines that there is no more vibration detected,the SMR drive stops skipping tracks and proceeds with a default OCLIM.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an example tracks in a segment baseddynamic mapping partition in an SMR data storage system 300. In theimplementation of FIG. 3, a partition may have segment-based dynamicmapping (e.g., a media cache). As shown in FIG. 3, a track (e.g., trackn+1) can have multiple segments (e.g., segments 336, 338, and 340). InFIG. 3, tracks n, n+1, and n+2 have three segments each.

In one implementation, when vibration is sensed by a vibration sensor,and a number of vibration events are determined via a vibrationdetermination scheme to be above a predetermined threshold, multipleunmapped segments (e.g., unmapped segments 332) of a track (e.g., trackn) can be skipped so that a default OCLIM may be increased withouterasing the mapped segment (e.g., mapped segment 334). The OCLIM may beincreased and the writer shifted

The storage controller seeks to a second track (track n+1) adjacent tothe first track n. Since a segment of the adjacent track n+1 is unmapped(e.g., segment 336), the OCLIM on the second track n+1 adjacent to thefirst track n is increased from a default OCLIM to an increased OCLIMand the writer center on the second track n+1 adjacent to the firsttrack n is shifted. Data is written on the unmapped segment 336 on thesecond track n+1 adjacent to the first track n. When the vibrationdetection scheme determines that there is no more vibration detected,the SMR drive stops skipping segments of the tracks and proceeds with adefault OCLIM and writes to the next adjacent track (e.g., track n+2),which has mapped segments with a restored default OCLIM.

FIG. 4 is schematic diagram of an example tracks in a media cachepartition in an SMR data storage system 400. In the implementation ofFIG. 4, a writer center on a track (e.g., track n+1) may be shifted toalign with a track center (depicted in dotted lines showing change ofposition from “old writer center 410” to “new writer center 412”).

For example, if an SMR track overlap of a track (e.g., track n+1) in amedia cache partition is 30%, then a default OCLIM 414 may be increasedto an increased OCLIM 416. A default OCLIM 414 may be 10% and a writercenter may be shifted 15%, resulting in an increased new OCLIM 316 of25%. If a default OCLIM 414 is increased from 10% to 25%, the number ofdisc retries may be greatly reduced.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of example operations 500 for an improvedthroughput process in an SMR data storage system. An operation 502receives a write command to write data on a first track in a band of astorage medium. An operation 504 performs a vibration detection schemeto identify vibration events. An operation 506 determines if a number ofvibration events is above a predetermined threshold.

If the operation 506 determines the number of vibration events is belowa predetermined threshold, an operation 508 writes data on the firsttrack with a default OCLIM. If the operation 506 determines a number ofvibration events is above a predetermined threshold, an operation 510skips the first track. An operation 512 designates the skipped firsttrack as skipped in a mapping table. An operation 514 seeks to a secondtrack adjacent to the first track. An operation 516 increases an OCLIMon the second track adjacent to the first track from a default OCLIM toan increased OCLIM (e.g., from a 10% default OCLIM to an 25% increasedOCLIM).

An operation 518 shifts the writer center on the second track adjacentto the first track. An operation 520 writes data on the second trackadjacent to the first track. In some implementations, subsequentoperations include performing a vibration detection scheme to identifyvibration events on the second track adjacent to the first track, and soon.

FIG. 6 discloses a block diagram of a computer system 600 suitable forimplementing the improved SMR throughput process. Computer system 600 iscapable of executing a computer program product embodied in a tangiblecomputer-readable storage medium to execute a computer process. Thetangible computer-readable storage medium is not embodied in acarrier-wave or other signal. Data and program files may be input tocomputer system 600, which reads the files and executes the programstherein using one or more processors. Some of the elements of a computersystem are shown in FIG. 5, where a processor 602 is shown having aninput/output (I/O) section 604, a Central Processing Unit (CPU) 606, anda memory 608. There may be one or more processors 602, such thatprocessor 602 of system 600 has a single central-processing unit or aplurality of processing units. System 600 further includes a controller,not shown in FIG. 6, configured to designate a plurality ofnon-contiguous storage areas on the storage media as media scratch pads;the controller may be software, firmware, or a combination thereof.System 600 may be a conventional computer, a distributed computer, orany other type of computer. The described technology is optionallyimplemented in software loaded in memory 608, a disc storage unit 612,or removable memory 618.

In an example implementation, the process of increasing SMR throughputmay be embodied by instructions stored in memory 508 and/or disc storageunit 512 and executed by CPU 506. Further, local computing system,remote data sources and/or services, and other associated logicrepresent firmware, hardware, and/or software which may be configured toadaptively distribute workload tasks to improve system performance. Theuse of the media scratch pad may be implemented using a general purposecomputer and specialized software (such as a server executing servicesoftware), and a special purpose computing system and specializedsoftware (such as a mobile device or network appliance executing servicesoftware), or other computing configurations. In addition, program data,such as dynamic allocation threshold requirements and other informationmay be stored in memory 508 and/or disc storage unit 512 and executed byprocessor 502.

The implementations of the invention described herein are implemented aslogical steps in one or more computer systems. The logical operations ofthe present invention are implemented (1) as a sequence ofprocessor-implemented steps executing in one or more computer systemsand (2) as interconnected machine or circuit modules within one or morecomputer systems. The implementation is a matter of choice, dependent onthe performance requirements of the computer system implementing theinvention. Accordingly, the logical operations making up the embodimentsof the invention described herein are referred to variously asoperations, steps, objects, or modules. Furthermore, it should beunderstood that logical operations may be performed in any order, addingand omitting as desired, unless explicitly claimed otherwise or aspecific order is inherently necessitated by the claim language.

The above specification, examples, and data provide a completedescription of the structure and use of exemplary embodiments of theinvention. The above description provides specific embodiments. It is tobe understood that other embodiments are contemplated and may be madewithout departing from the scope or spirit of the present disclosure.The above detailed description, therefore, is not to be taken in alimiting sense. While the present disclosure is not so limited, anappreciation of various aspects of the disclosure will be gained througha discussion of the examples provided.

Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing feature sizes,amounts, and physical properties are to be understood as being modifiedby the term “about.” Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, thenumerical parameters set forth are approximations that can varydepending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by thoseskilled in the art utilizing the teachings disclosed herein.

As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” encompassembodiments having plural referents, unless the content clearly dictatesotherwise. As used in this specification and the appended claims, theterm “or” is generally employed in its sense including “and/or” unlessthe content clearly dictates otherwise.

Spatially related terms, including but not limited to, “lower”, “upper”,“beneath”, “below”, “above”, “on top”, etc., if used herein, areutilized for ease of description to describe spatial relationships of anelement(s) to another. Such spatially related terms encompass differentorientations of the device in addition to the particular orientationsdepicted in the figures and described herein. For example, if astructure depicted in the figures is turned over or flipped over,portions previously described as below or beneath other elements wouldthen be above or over those other elements.

Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in theclaims hereinafter appended. Furthermore, structural features of thedifferent embodiments may be combined in yet another embodiment withoutdeparting from the recited claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: receiving a write command towrite data on a first track in a band of a storage medium; performing avibration detection scheme to identify vibration events; determining ifa number of vibration events is above a predetermined vibrationthreshold; skipping the first track responsive to determining the numberof vibration events is above the vibration predetermined threshold;seeking to a second track adjacent to the first track; and increasing anon-cylinder limit (OCLIM) on the second track adjacent to the firsttrack from a default OCLIM to an increased OCLIM.
 2. The method of claim1, further comprising: designating the skipped first track as skipped ina mapping table.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: shiftinga writer center on the second track adjacent to the first track.
 4. Themethod of claim 3, further comprising: writing data on the second trackadjacent to the first track.
 5. The method of claim 3, wherein thewriter center is shifted approximately 25%.
 6. A storage device system,comprising: a vibration sensor configured to detect vibration in astorage device; and a storage controller configured to: receive a writecommand to write data on a first track in a band of a storage medium;perform a vibration detection scheme via vibration detection module toidentify a number of vibration events detected by the vibration sensor;determine if the number of vibration events is above a predeterminedthreshold; skip the first track responsive to determining the number ofvibration events is above a predetermined threshold; seek to a secondtrack adjacent to the first track; and increase an on-cylinder limit(OCLIM) on the second track adjacent to the first track from a defaultOCLIM to an increased OCLIM.
 7. The storage device system of claim 6,wherein the storage medium includes a media cache with segment-baseddynamic mapping and the storage controller is configured to skip atleast one unmapped segment on a track in the band.
 8. The storage devicesystem of claim 6, wherein the storage medium is a shingled magneticrecording storage medium.
 9. The storage device system of claim 6,wherein the storage controller is further configured to designate theskipped first track as skipped in a mapping table.
 10. The storagedevice system of claim 6, wherein the storage controller is furtherconfigured to shift a writer center on the second track adjacent to thefirst track.
 11. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storagemedia encoding computer-executable instructions for executing on acomputer system a computer process, the computer process comprising:receiving a write command to write data on a first track in a band of astorage medium; performing a vibration detection scheme to identifyvibration events; determining if a frequency of vibration events isabove a predetermined threshold; skipping the first track responsive todetermining the frequency of vibration events is above a predeterminedthreshold; seeking to a second track adjacent to the first track; andincreasing an on-cylinder limit (OCLIM) on the second track adjacent tothe first track from a default OCLIM to an increased OCLIM.
 12. The oneor more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 11,further comprising designating the skipped first track as skipped in amapping table.
 13. The one or more non-transitory computer-readablestorage media of claim 11, further comprising shifting a writer centeron the second track adjacent to the first track.
 14. The one or morenon-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 13, furthercomprising writing data on the second track adjacent to the first track.15. The method of claim 1, further comprising: writing data on the firsttrack with the default OCLIM responsive to determining a frequency ofvibration events is below a predetermined frequency threshold.
 16. Thestorage device system of claim 6, wherein the storage controller isfurther configured to write data on the second track adjacent to thefirst track.
 17. The storage device system of claim 6, wherein a writercenter is shifted approximately 25%.
 18. The storage device system ofclaim 6, wherein the storage controller is further configured to writedata on the first track with a default OCLIM responsive to determining afrequency of vibration events is below a predetermined threshold. 19.The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim11, wherein a writer center is shifted approximately 25%.
 20. The one ormore non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 11, furthercomprising: writing data on the first track with the default OCLIMresponsive to determining the frequency of vibration events is below apredetermined frequency threshold.